Boys soccer: Wheeling knocks off Conant
Jared Urueta's double set Wheeling (11-4-1, 7-3-1) on course to a second half offensive explosion en route to a 4-2 boys soccer win Thursday night over Conant at Charles Feutz Field in the regular season finale for both clubs.
The victory gives the Wildcats a share of second place in the Mid-Suburban East along with Hersey, each finishing with 22 points, and third overall (with Hersey) in the final MSL table.
"It was good to see the guys respond after going down a goal and obviously any win in this conference is a good one but it's important the team realizes there's still plenty of work ahead of us in advance to regionals which begin in two weeks," said Wheeling head coach Kevin Lennon.
The Cougars (2-11-1, 1-8-2) got off to a dream start when senior Eduardo Dorado scored the opener at three minutes in spectacular fashion - a lead the home side would manage until the 38th minute when Joshua Martinez drove home the equalizer off a long throw from Ureta.
"At times tonight and during the season, we played some great soccer - enough so that in our last two losses to Buffalo Grove and Barrington (Darren Llewellyn and Scott Steib) could not believe we had won just two games this season," said Conant head coach Jason Franco.
"We just could not get out of our own way tonight after they got level, then went ahead for good."
"Piotr (Pyz) had a terrific game for us in goal, but we still conceded four, and maybe if Sota (Ono) puts that close range shot into the net we go up 3-1 and it's a different story.
"But as I've said, that's the way our season has gone this year."
The home side outworked its opponents for most of the first half defending with all its might when they needed to against an opponent with plenty of firepower and counting on the aforementioned Pyz to come to the rescue.
Maciej Matusiak bagged the Cougars' second goal in the 51st minute, a wonder goal of sorts with the sophomore chipping 'Cats keeper Jonathan Espinoza with the touch of a fine jeweler from 35 yards.
Ono turned his defender to get inside the box and in a 1v1 situation with Espinoza, but the Cougars' leading scorer sent his attempt over the bar.
Urueta would make the Cougars pay for their inability to mark the MSL scoring leader when he made sure of his effort at the back post after he latched onto a terrific helper from Miguel Rodriguez.
Ureuta's 22nd goal this season came moments after his 58th minute equalizer to give the Wildcats a lead they would not relinquish.
"It's nice to be scoring goals, but what's really important is for us to play well, and with confidence, and to come out strong each and every time, which is something we didn't do tonight," said Urueta.
"We have a lot of talent on this team, but we have to put it all together in order to have a good run in the postseason."
The senior provided a superb crossing ball to Dominik Brzostowski who claimed a well deserved goal 11 minutes from time to end the scoring.
The Wildcats will play either Barrington or Hoffman Estates next Tuesday afternoon in a MSL crossover match, while Conant is expected to meet Elk Grove on that same day.